The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history of $640 million has at least three winners, officials and media reports said on Saturday, and officials were waiting for the winners to come forward.
Lottery officials in Maryland and Illinois said that winning tickets were purchased in their states, and a winning ticket was also bought in Kansas, according to several media reports.
The winners whose tickets had all six numbers of the Mega Millions lottery drawn on Friday night will split the jackpot.
"This is truly remarkable and historic," said Maryland lottery director Stephen Martino said.
The winning numbers announced at the drawing in Atlanta were 2-4-23-38-46 and Mega Ball 23. Winners could receive either a one-time payment of their share or take it in 26 annual installment payments.
Michael Jones, Illinois Lottery superintendent, said a winning ticket was sold in Red Bud, a tiny town near St. Louis.
He said the winner will get a $213 million share of the jackpot, the largest prize in state lottery history.
Though the winner may want to remain anonymous, the state is required to eventually list his or her identity in public records, he said.
"They have a period of time to get a hold of us ... We do have to publicize who the person is," Jones said.
A lottery official in Maryland said on Saturday the winning ticket in that state was sold at a 7-Eleven store.
"It was a quick pick and only one ticket was purchased" by the winner, he said. "We don't know who this person is."
The owners of the 7-Eleven store receive a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket, in addition to the usual five percent of each $1 ticket sold, he said.
There had been a tremendous amount of excitement ahead of the drawing, with over one billion tickets sold, lottery officials said.
The previous largest Mega Millions jackpot was $390 million in 2007, which was split between two ticket holders inGeorgia and New Jersey.
About half the lottery money goes back to ticket holders in the form of winnings, 35 percent to the states and 15 percent to retailer commissions and lottery operating expenses.
One certain winner is the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The tax-collecting agency subjects lottery winnings of more than $5,000 to a 25-percent federal withholding tax.
Related Artibles:
Mega Millions Mess: Maryland 'Winner' Mirlande Wilson Reportedly In Hiding, Co-workers Left Guessing
Mega Millions Mess: Maryland 'Winner' Mirlande Wilson Won't Share Portion Of $656M With Coworkers
Mega Millions Mess: Maryland Winner Mirlande Wilson Reluctant to Share $656m Jackpot
Mega Millions Numbers: Lottery Winner Says She Accidently Gave Away $260,000-Winning Ticket To A Beggar
Mega Millions Winning Numbers: Check Here To See Who Wins The Largest Jackpot
Mega Millions Winning Number: Winner Could Be Richer Than Mitt Romney, Lady Gaga [PHOTOS]
Mega Millions Jackpot: 50 Ways To Spend The $476 Million Lottery Prize
© 2017 Reuters All rights reserved.
